The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-05-14

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reserved her. on which she hoated over
70 oeeiand! On the spot where she first
SET her foot, there sprang forth a fount-
am which still bears her name. A
writer speaking Of the wishing wells in
sweden at the commencement of the
present century, says: ..Husby is very
Pleasantly situated. and its church
Is said to be n Of the oldest in Sweden.
mere is shown St. Siegfried's we'll, with
.ne water OF which the holy man Sig
Iridus, according to tradition, baptized
hing GLOW Skotkonung. The we'll is
still famous. and is said on many occa-
slons to be used nightly by the country
people"
Formerly. many superstitions and
ceremonies were practiced at wells.
lmos every province had some that at
certain periods of the summer were
visited. and into which a piece of
money iron, or any metal was cast as
an Offering. Amongst savage and un-
cultured races also, we find much the
same notions. many of which play a
prominent part in their religious be-
liefs. Thus, Mr.. Dorman, in his Origin
OF Primitive Superstitions, tells us how
the tribes of Central America, Mexico,
and New Mexico had their sacred
springs. and mentions the various sac
rifices offered to them. The indians of
Colorado regard springs that bubble
up from the ground with awe
and reverence, and bring
their sick thither to be
cured. The bubbling of the water is
supposed to be due to spirits breathing
into it. the healing power being
ascribed to these supernatural agents.
Again, in the Deccan and Ceylon,
trees and bushes near springs and
wells are of common occurrence, and
may frequently be seen covered with
votive offerings. Atkinson, in his
"Oriental and Western Siberia" speak
ing of the Bouriats, informs us that
they have their sacred lakes or wells.
In one OF his rambles. he says: Il came
upon the small and picturesque lake of
lkeougoun. which lies in the mount
aims to the north Of San-ghin dalai, and
is held in veneration. They have
erected a small wooden temple on the
shore, and here they come to sacrifice.
offering up milk, butter. and the fat of
animals, which they burn ON the little
affairs. The large rock in the lake is
with them a sacred stone, on which
some rude figures are traced; and on
the bank opposite they place rods with
small silk flags, having inscriptions
printed on them" In Northern Asia,
writes Sir John Lubbock, in his "Origin
Of Civilization" the Tunguscs and
Votyaks worship various springs; and
in the tenth century a schism took
place in Persia among the Armenians,
n party being accused Of despising
the holy well Of Vagarschiebat. Once
more, in North Mexico, near the thirty
fifth parallel, Lieutenant Whipple
found a spring which from time imme-
mortal chad been held sacred to the
Some idea of the respect
paid to this spring may be gathered
from the fact that no animal may drink
its waters. and it must be annually
eleansed ''with ancient vases, which.
been transmitted from genera
ton to generation by the caciques,
are then placed on the walls,
never to be removed" DR.. Bell also.
in the chronological Journal, informs us
in New Mexico, not far from Zuni,
there is asacred spring about eight feet
diameter, walled round with stones,
Of which neither men nor cattle may
drink. Once n year, the %cacique and
attendants perform certain religious
rites at this spring, offerings being pre-
to it.
But, turning to the wells Of our own
country, we find many curious practices
AcpU up Ill IIlc WCSJcIu COuIIIIcS. luuSs
Cornwall, near Penzance, there is
The far-famed we'll of St. Madron,
which so much legendary lore
las clustered. According to an old
piece of advice, the visitor to this
is thus admonIshcd:
Plunge thy right hand in ST. Madron's spring, !
true to its troth be the palm you bring:
But II . false digit thy fingers bear,
lay them at once on the burning share.
In this we'll may be found, as in many
the pins which have been fire.
dropped by young women
anxious of ascertaining ''when they |
we're to be married." II once wit
says Mr.. Hunt, in his Popular
Of the West Of England"
'thewhole ceremony performed by a
.roup Of beautiful girls, who had walked
IN aMay morning from Pc enhance. Two
pieces Of straw, about an inch long
,och yyeve crossed and the min rim